The Belkin Pro Cycling Team left Belgium empty-handed on Sunday. The riders of Sports Director Frans Maassen did whatever they could during the past four days in Tour de l'Eurometropole.

But because of the straightforward conditions they weren’t able to hinder the bunch sprints. That was also the case on the final stage. Argos-Shimano sprinter John Degenkolb won the ride, while Jens Debusschere of Lotto-Belisol took the GC. Jetse Bol concluded the race as overall tenth.

“We deserved more this week”, stated Maassen to Belkin’s website. “I’m pleased with the spirit the boys have shown. They tried and tried, but all we got was bunch sprints. Theo [Bos] was not good enough to win yet, but he is getting better and better. That’s good news. With a 100 per cent fit Theo we could have mixed in for the stage wins. Now it was up to Graeme Brown, who did well by finishing sixth on Friday and fourth today.” 
 

Not challenging enough

Maarten Wynants, overall third last year, started the race with ambitions. Unfortunately the course and the weather conditions were not challenging enough for him.

“Today was just like the other days. It was hard to make a difference. We just couldn’t make the bunch break. Too bad for me, because I’m pretty quick, but not quick enough to mingle with the real sprinters,” he said.
 

Binche-Tournai-Binche

Several riders will return to Sunday’s finish town Tournai on Tuesday. They will ride Binche-Tournai-Binche. One of those riders is Wynants. “That race is a nice opportunity to set things right straight away!”